Visiting Branson 游在布兰森

肖雅琪

Attracting visitors for more than five decades， Branson is often described as a “family-friendly Las Vegas” for its abundance1 of kid-approved attractions. This southwest Missouri city， which is nestled in the foothills2 of the Ozark Mountains， was named after Reuben Branson， the postmaster and the proprietor of the areas general store in the late 19th century.

布蘭森因为具有许多儿童认可的景点常被人们称为“深受家庭喜爱的拉斯维加斯”，五十多年来一直吸引着大量游客。这座城市位于密苏里州西南部，坐落在奥沙克山脉的丘陵地带，因19世纪后期的邮政局长兼当地负责人鲁本·布兰森而得名。

More than a century later， Branson keeps some of its old-timey charm， especially in its Silver Dollar City amusement park was modeled after a mining town in the 1880s. Even the Branson Strip glows with neon lights and is lined with dozens of theaters. The performing shows that range from country western family acts to comedy routines， possesses3 a yesteryear ambiance4. Thats not to say that Branson is a sleepy Midwestern city—amusement parks， shopping centers， museums and natural attractions like Table Rock Lake pepper5 the area. Visitors have more than enough things to do to fill a weeklong vacation. In fact， many of Bransons visitors find themselves coming back year after year.

一个多世纪后，布兰森保留了它的一些旧时魅力，尤其出名的是以19世纪80年代的矿业小镇为原形打造的“银币城”游乐园。 在布兰森大道上，霓虹灯闪烁的同时，有几十家影院上映着各式各样的表演，从西部乡村家庭到喜剧。这些场景使布兰森有着浓厚的时代感。但并不是说布兰森是一个死气沉沉的中西部城市，相反，建有游乐园、购物中心、博物馆以及像桌岩湖这样的自然景点。游客在为期一周的休假中有足够多的选择。事实上，许多游客年年都会到布兰森游览。

Bransons top to-dos could best be described as family-friendly with a country western bent. Theres Silver Dollar City， which attracts kids with its thrilling6 rides and keeps parents happy with its “good， clean fun” atmosphere7. There are also many educational opportunities， from the history of the “unsinkable” ship at the Titanic Museum to animal and environmental science lessons at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery. Whats more， Table Rock Lake affords a picturesque8 place for swimming and boating， while many performance places like the Sight & Sound Theatres will entertain the whole family with singing， dancing and music.

布兰森的最佳行程表很受西部家庭的喜爱。那里有银币城，里面刺激的过山车吸引着孩子们的光临，良好有趣的氛围让家长感到身心愉悦。从泰坦尼克博物馆“永不沉没”的船的历史，到牧羊人山鱼孵化场里的动物与环境科学课程，布兰森也具有许多寓教于乐的机会。更重要的是，桌岩湖还提供了一个风景如画的游泳和划船地方，同时许多像“视觉和声音”剧院这样的表演场所能给全家人带来歌、舞、音乐的体验。

Notes：

1. abundance n. 充裕，丰富

2. foothill n. 山麓小丘；丘陵地带

3. possess vt. 控制；使掌握；持有；迷住；拥有，具备

4. ambiance n. 气氛；周围环境（等于ambience）

5. pepper vt. 加胡椒粉于；使布满

6. thrilling adj. 毛骨悚然的；令人兴奋的；颤动的

7. atmosphere n. 气氛；大气；空气

8. picturesque adj. 独特的；生动的；别致的；图画般的